Coin tube and opener therefor



G. A. HALE COIN TUBE AND OPENER THEREFOR June 10, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1951 FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. GERALD A. HALE ATTOFNEY June 10, 1952 G. A. HALE 2,599,912

com TUBE AND OPENER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 12, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 as 2 45 4o\; 5o 4 49 g 2 $52 4: 2 57 i s3 23' $4. I t/ E 4% x p i a; 5.; 2 /54 4 V S 66 -64 2 Z 4.. A, ,4 V Y" r AIL A".

. FIG. 5 INVENTOR.

GERALD A. HAL

ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 COIN TUBE AND OPENER THEREFOR Gerald A. Hale, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignor to Magee-Hale Park-O-Meter Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1951, Serial No. 205,665

11 Claims.

parking meters, the safe and efficient collection of coins is an important step in the operation of an eflicient parking system. Heretofore a majority of the parking meters in operation were provided with a sealed coin box which was replaced periodically with an empty coin box by a coin collecting operator. The operator returned the filled or partially filled coin boxes to the ofiice where the boxes were opened and the coins counted by another employee of the municipality. Although this is a relatively safe method of collecting coins from parking meters, it will be readily appreciated that a large amount of ofilce work is required to seal and store the numerous coin boxes and a substantial number of man hours is required to'exchange the boxes at the meters.

Another method of collecting coins is to provide the collecting operator with a collecting receptacle. In this method the operator opens a coin retaining box attached to each meter and bodily removes the coins from the meter into the collecting receptacle. The collecting receptacle is subsequently returned to the oflice where the collected coins are counted. It willvbe observed, of course, that the coins may be collected in a relatively short period of time and the oflice work is reduced to a minimum, however, the collecting operator comes into direct contact with the coins and the municipality may lose a portion of its revenue.

This invention contemplates a combining of the beneficial results of the above described methods and an elimination of the unsatisfactory results obtained by each method. To accomplish these results, I contemplate a novel coin receptacle or tube for a parking meter which cannot be unauthorizedly opened. A spring loaded plunger is provided in the coin tube that may be removed from the tube to remove coins therefrom only by use of a special tool. A collecting device is provided in the form of a collector receptacle having a novel tool therein for opening the coin tubes at the various meters. The collecting operator transports the collecting device to the various meters on a suitable cart and the coin tube at each meter is removed from the meter and inserted in the collecting device. The opening tool is then actuated by the operator to open the coin tube and. transfer the coins from the coin tube into the collecting device. The coin tube is automatically closed upon release of the opening tool and the opening tool cannot be removed from the collecting device without detection. Furthermore, the collected coins cannot be removed from the collecting device without detection, and the operator does not come into direct contact with the coins.

An important object of this invention is to provide safe and efiicient means for collecting coins from parking meters.

Another object of this invention is to preclude the collecting operator from coming into contact with the coins while collecting the coins from a parking meter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel coin tube and opener therefor.

Another object of this invention is to reduce to a minimum the oflice work involved in collecting coins from parking meters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a practical and efiicient coin tube and opener therefor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an economical coin tube and opener therefor having a long service life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a novel coin collector having a coin tube disposed therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coin tube.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the collector.

Figure 4 is a sectional View of a portion of the collector and coin tube illustrating the position of the mechanism immediately prior to the openerally designates a novel coin collecting device comprising a cylindrical housing 4. A door 6 is provided in the top 8 of the housing 4 and may be locked in any suitable manner (not shown). The collecting device 2 is transported to the various parking meters (not shown) by a suitable cart (not shown) in the usual manner. A tubular stack or pipe I0 is secured in the housing 4 and extends through the upper end 8 thereof to receive a novel coin tube generally indicated at [2.

, The coin tube I! (see also Fig. 2) is normally disposed in a parking meter (not shown) for other coin operated devices (not shown) to ing a head l6 rigidly secured in the upper end thereof. A circumferential flange I8 is provided on the outer periphery of the head I6 and extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the housing l4 for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth. A rectangular shaped opening 20 is provided in the head [6 to receive a pair of flippers 22. Transverse arms (not shown) are provided on the upper end of each flipper 22 and extend into complementary slots 26 in the head [6. The flipper arms are: pivotally retained in the slots 26 by a suitable apertured retaining plate 28 secured to the 'head l6'by drive screws 30. The lower ends 32 of the flippers 22 are normally in contact as shown in Fig. 2 to close the opening .20. 'An obliquely extending arm 34 is provided on1each"flipper;22 andiis engaged by a downwardly extending hook ".36. The hooks 36 are in turn connected to the upper end of a helical tension spring .38 extending through the housing [4. d

It will be readily apparent that the spring 38 acts through the medium of the hooks i361 and arms 34 to retain the flippers 22 in a' closed position. When a coin (not shown) 'isfor'cedbetween the flippers 20, the spring138jis stretched to permit passing of the coin into the housing I4. The flippers 22 and opening20 are preferably essentially the same length as the diameter of the largestcoin to be inserted in thehousing 14, thereby precluding an unauthorized opening of the flippers 22 by a. screw driver or the'like "(not shown) to remove coins from the coin tube I2.

A plunger 461s provided in the lower end of the housing I4 and is connected to the lower end of the tension spring 38. Suitable ,stops4l -(see Fig. 5) are provided. in "the lower portion of the housing M to limit the movement of the plunger .40 into the housing 14. .The uppersurface 42 of the plunger 40 (Figs.'2 and 5) is curved for purposesas will'be hereinafter set forth. A largev tapered aperture '43 'isiprovided concentrically in the lower surface"44, of theplunger "40 and communicates with a smallerconcentric bore 45. A pair of diametrically. opposed aligning apertures 46 are also provided in the lowerportion of the plunger 49 in communication-with the lower face 44 thereof.

It" will be readily apparent that the tension spring38 -will retain the plunger 40 in thelmusing l4 against the stops'4l toclose off thelower end thereof .as well as retain the 'flippers22:in a' closed position. 'It will also be readily seen that theplunger46 cannot be pulled out of the housing l4 against the action of the. spring .38

by anrordinary wrench orjthe, like ,(not shown), to

open the coin tube [2.

To remove the plunger 49 from the, housing I4, I provide an opener indicated generally at 4! (Fig.3) and disposed'infthe stack l within the container'4. .The opener I4'Ipcomprises' a vertically disposed rod or shaft 48 jextendingpartially through .the stack [0. A tapered head 49 is rigidly secured on the upper end of the rod 48. The upper .end '50 of the head'49 is cylindrical, in configuration and is adapted to enter .theibore or recess 45 .of the coin tubeflplunger .40 as will be hereinafterset forth. ,The'tapered portion of.the head 49 is tapered upwardly and outwardly at a slightly greater angle fromthe vertical than terconnecting the opposite ends of asuitable 4 helical tension spring. Furthermore, the garter spring 52 is placed on the head 49 under tension, therefore, the spring 52 constantly tendsto crawl downwardly over the tapered-portion 5| of the head 49.

An apertured cylindrically shaped actuator 53 is reciprocally disposed on the rod 48 below the head 49. A pair of opposed transverse pins 54 are secured in the lower end of the actuator 53 and extend into complementary slots 55 provided in the stack 'I0. The pins 54 and slots 55 limit the reciprocatory movement of the actuator 53 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. A cylindrical recess 56 is provided in the upper end of the actuator 53 to receive .the tapered head 49. An upstanding circumferential flange .51 surrounds the recess 56 and is adapted to contact the garter s'pring152 tocontrolfthe' movement thereof. TA pair of vvertically disposed pins 58 (see "Fig. "5) are also carried in the upper end of thelactuator 53 and are adapted to be disposed in the aligning apertures .46 of the coin tube plunger 46.

An enlarged cylindrical recess '59 (Fig. 3) is provided in the lower portion 'of the actuator 53 to receive ahelical compression spring 69 surrounding the, rod 48. The upper end of the spring '66 is anchored to the actuator'53 and the lower end thereof ,is anchored to ,a collar 6| rigidly secured on the rod 48. It'will be readily apparent that the spring '60 constantly tendsto retain the actuator 53 in its uppermost position with the pins 54 in theupper ends of the slots 55.

Openings 62 (seeFig. ,5), are provided in the opposite sides of the stack 16 adjacent the top 8 of the container 4 to providean entrance for coins (not shown) intothecontainer'4. A sleeve 63 is slidingly disposed over the stack H) to cover the openings 62 when the container 4 is inverted to preclude an unauthorized removal of coins from the container 4. When the container 4 is in an upright position, as shown,.the sleeve 63 is disposed below the opening .62 and rests on a drive screw 64 provided inthe stack l6.

Another collar 65 (Fig. 3) is secured on the shaft 48 below the collar 6| to anchor the upper end of 1 another helicalcompression spring 66 surrounding the shaft 48. Thelower endof the spring 66 jisanchored toan apertured plug 61 rigidlysecured' in the stack Hl by screws 68. .The spring'66 is stronger than the spring 60for purposes as willbe hereinafter set forth. The shaft '48 .ex'tends through the plug 61 and has an exten- .tweenlthe' plunger 'Il' and.,.plug6l upon an upward movement of'the shaft '48, thereby cushioning the final upward' movernent of the shaft. An

escape port'12 isprovided inthe stack l0 below the plug 161 'to permit 'freemovement of the plunger .1! during a portion of its .upward rnovement.' U

1A lever. 13 is pinned to the lower end 'ofjthe shaft extension69. The lever 13 ispivotally secured at one end by a pin 'M to ayoke. member 15 in turn'secured to'the raised bottom '76 of the container 4. .Anelongatedgslot T! is provided-in the 'lever13 to receive the 'pin 'i i, thereby permitting 'true verticalimovement of the shaft 48 and extension69 upon actuationof'the lever 73.

'The lever 13 extends througha vertical slot lt providedinxthe containeri iand has a foot pedal "19. securedion the outerend thereof. A flange Operation In operation, the collecting device 2 is transported to the various parking meters (not shown) on a suitable cart (not shown) by the collecting operator. At each parking meter, the coin tube I2 is removed therefrom and inserted in the stack H) as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The coin tube I2 is then turned until the aligning apertures 46 (Fig. 5) are aligned with the pins 58, permitting downward movement of the coin tube l2 until the upper'end 59 of the head 49 completely enters the recess 45 of the plunger 40. The garter spring 52 will then be retained by the actuator flange 51 in such a position that the center line of the garter spring 52 is essentially even with the lowe face 44 of the plunger 40.

The lever 13 is then moved downwardly by the pedall9 to open the coin tube 12. During the initial downward movement of the shaft 49 and head 49, the spring 60 will retainthe actuator 53 in its uppermost position'as shown in Fig. 4 to retain the garter spring 52 in its upper position. The head 49 will therefore be moved down in the spring 52 to expand the spring. Also duringthe initial downward movement of the head 49, the entire coin tube 12 moves down simultaneous with the head 49 until the circumferential flange I8 of the coin tube head l6 contacts the upper end of the stack Ill. Since the degree of taper of the head 49 is greater than the degree of taper of the recess 43, the garter spring 52 will become wedged between the head 49 and walls of the recess 43 when the head 49 and plunger 49 have moved downwardly a predetermined distance over the spring 52. The garter spring 52, will, of course, become wedged between the head 49 and plunger 40 to interlock the head and plunger slightly before, or simultaneous with, the contact of the circumferential flange l8 and stack l9.

Upon contact of the flange I8 and stack l0, and continued downward movement of the head 49, the plunger 40 will be moved downwardly out of the housing [4 through the medium of the garter spring 52 to the positionshown in Fig. 5. The garter spring 52 is retained in a wedged position between the head 49 and plunger 49 by the actuator flange 51 through the action of the spring 60. When the garter spring 52 has become wedged as set forth, the actuator 53 is moved downward simultaneous with the head 49 and plunger 40.

As the plunger 40 is removed from the housing [4, coins (not shown) will fall by gravity out of the housing l4 and through the openings 62 into the container 4. It will be noted that the slanting portions of the plunger upper surface 42 are aligned with the openings 62 to facilitate removal of the coins. Furthermore, the entire surface 42 is curved, thereby minimizing the tendency of coins to adhere to the plunger 40 by reducing the contact area between the falling coins and the plunger.

Upon removal of the coins from the coin tube l2, the pedal 19 is released, permitting the combined action of the springs 38 and 66 to move the head 49, plunger 40 and actuator 53 simultane- 6 ously upward." During the final upward movement of the head 49, the pins 54 (Fig. 4) contact the upper ends'of the slots 55 to stop the actuator 53. It will be noted that the spring 66 is stronger than the spring 99, and will; therefore, force the head 49 on upward against the action of the spring 60 after the actuator 53 has been stopped. The garter spring 52 will thereby be released and permitted to crawl downwardlyover the head 49 to release the plunger 49; The-spring 38 will then move the plunger 40 back into the lower portion of the housing I4 against the stops 4|, whereupon the coin tube I2 may be removed'from the stack l0 and reinserted in-a parking meter.

' After a plurality of coin tubes I2 have been emptied into the container 4, the collecting device 2 is returned to theofiice where the coins are counted by office personnel.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides safe and efiicient means for collecting coins from a parking meter. The collecting operator does not come into direct contact with the coins, and the office work is reduced to a minimum. It is also apparent that the present invention provides a practical and efficient coin tube and opener therefor which may be economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a coin collecting apparatus, comprising a coin tube, a spring loaded plunger in one end of the tube having a recess therein, and an opener for the coin tube, said opener comprising a head of a size to enter the recess, and expandable means carried by the head to engage the walls of said recess whereby the plunger may be removed from the coin tube upon movement of said headto remove coins from the tube.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a coin tube, a plunger in one end of the coin tube, one end face of said plunger being exposed and having a tapered recess therein, and an opener for the coin tube, said opener comprising, a tapered head of a size to enter the tapered recess, and expandable means carried by the tapered head for interlocking the head to the walls of the recess in one position thereof, whereby thejplunger may be removed from the coin tube to remove coins therefrom, and means for actuating the expandable means.

3. In apparatus of the character described, comprising a coin tube, a plunger in one end of the coin tube, one end face of said plunger being exposed and having a tapered recess therein, and an opener for the coin tube, said opener comprising, a tapered head of a size to enter said recess, agarter spring on the tapered head for interlocking the head to the walls of the recess in one position thereof, and means for moving the garter spring into locking position.

4. In apparatus of the character described,

comprising a coin tube, a removable plunger in the coin tube, a spring in the tube for retaining the plunger therein, one end face of said plunger being exposed and having a tapered recess therein, opener means for removing the plunger from the tube, said opener comprising a shaft, a tapered head on one end of the shaft of a size to enter said tapered recess. a garter spring on h ihe i i Qlij1111311062 12; the. he dth w lls f het pere x n o e no i ionthereo rand 7 an, actuator on the shaft .for moving thegarter springinto lochingposition. V

1 i'apparatus of the a ter described; compri in a. por a e: c t ner. a stack ex endins i to. the ta n at c i tu e ins t b ezin the stack, stop means for limiting the mQVBmVEI t o t e co tube. in thes a k' aremovableplunr ger in theinnermost end, of the coin tube, a lever extending from the container, and opening means in the container actuated by the lever for; removing the plunger from t he coin tube.

6. In apparatus of the character described, comprising a portable container, a stack extending into thecontainer, a coin tube insertablein the stack, stop-meansto limit the movement of the tube in the stack, aplunger in' the tubaa spring in the tube for retaining the plunger therein, one end face of the plunger being accessible through the lower end of the tube, are- I cess in said one end face of the plunger, amovable shaft in the container below the cointube,

plunger in the coin tube, one end face of, the

plunger being exposed, a recess in said ione end face of the plunger, a portable container; for receivingcollected coins, a stack extending from the container to receive the coin tube in such a manner that the exposed face of said plunger will face the container, stop means for limiting the-movement of the coin tube in the stack, a

reciprocable shaft in the containerfa head on the shaft insertable in said recess, locking means carried by. the head to lock the headin. therplunger in one positionthereof, a lever for moving the, shaft and head to remove the plunger from the coin tube, and spring loaded actuatingmeans for automatically moving said locking means I into said one osition'during the initial opening movement of'the'shaft and head.

-8. In apparatus ofthe character described, comprising a coin tube, a removable plunger in V the coin tube, a springfor normally retaining the plungerrin the coin tube, one end face of the elun 'b n exp s a P 5 7 i i nd face of the plungerra portable container for receiving colle ted coins, a stack extending from the container to receive the coin tube in such a mariner t at t e xe e e e e l dabl n er will face the container, stops means for limiting the movement of the-coin tube inthestack, a reciprocable shaft in the container, atapered head 1 11 1 h f rtab e i Sa d: eeessasa er spring on the head ,for;,interlockingthe; head; to the walls of the recess in one positionthereof, an actuator r cip ea d ep se i n the s a t or moving he r r spr ng o said; one pos t on, said, r r pr nelbeing. disp sed on the tapered bead u der te o w ereby said pring'rnoves into an unlocking position when, released by the uat m an for controllin themovementof the actuator, and a lever for movin the shaft; 9. In apparatus ofathe character described, comprising a portable container, at vvertical stack extending into the containen'nppfised openings in the staclsncornmunicatins withtbeiinterior of the container ad a ent he, uppe en the eof, a e ntube ne ta le nme s a k, top means o im tin he mo e f e i tu e i v e stack,aplungerinthelower end, of the coin; tube, a spring for normally retaining the plunger the coin. tube, a recess in the lower face of the, plunger, the upper surface of theplunger being essentially, an inverted V-shape to provide opposed slanting surfaces, opening means in the container for engaging the walls of the recess and removing the plunger from the coin tube, a lever extend ne remth ontaine o ac at the pe in m a sa mean for a s ngthe $13. ing surfaces of the plunger; with the opposed. openings in the stack to vdirect coins from the coin tube into the container upon removal of the plunger.

10. In apparatus of the character described, comprising a portable container, avertical stack extending into the container, opposed openings in the stack communicating with the interior of the container adjacent the-upper end thereof, a coin tube insertable in the stack, stop means for limiting the movement of the coin tube in the stack, a plunger in'the-lower end of thecoinv tube, a spring for normally retaining the plunger in the coin tube, a recess in the lower face of the plunger, the upper 's'urface of the plunger being essentially an inverted'V-shape to provide opposedslanting surfaces,'said slanting surfaces being curved to provide the minimum contact for coins resting thereon, opening meansin the container for engaging the walls of the recess and lunger.

11. In apparatus of the character described, comprising a portable container, a vertical stack extending'into the container, opposed openings in the stack communicatingwith the interior of the container adjacent the upper end thereof, the lower endof said stack being sealed from the in- (prior of the container, a coin tube insertable in the stack, stop meansfor limiting the movement of'the coin, tube in the stack, a plunger in the lower end of the coin tube, a, recess in thelower face of the plunger, the upper surface "of the plunger being essentially an'invertedV-shape to provide opposed slanting surfaces, opening means in, the container for engaging" the walls of the recess and removing the plunger from'the coin tube, a lever extending from the container for actuating the openingmeans, means for aligning thesl'anting surfaces of the plunger with the opposed openings in the stack todirect coins from the coin tube into thecontainer upon re moval of the plunger, and a reciprocable sleeve onthe stack within the container-to coverthe openings upon inversion of the container .to preclude removal of coinsfrom the container through-the stack,

r GERALD A. HALE;

REFERENCES, CITED Number Name. te.

1,011,815 Kepler D 12,1911 zine-see limussard u flmnl Nov. 5, 139 

